MESA, Ariz. — The ripple effects from the Yu Darvish deal will be felt long after his six-year, $126 million contract expires. Flexing those financial muscles meant the first half of this season wouldn’t be about auditioning Mike Montgomery and waiting around for the July 31 trade deadline.

Darvish’s presence jolted a Cubs team that spent a lot of time on cruise control during last year’s victory tour, strengthening the entire pitching staff. The end goal is another championship banner flying next to Wrigley Field’s center-field scoreboard.

But there is also a trickle-down theory for an organization that has struggled to develop young arms and can already see the beginnings of a turnaround. Signing Darvish means buying time and giving some cover to an entire farm system now that the big-league rotation might have all five spots filled through the 2020 season.

“You understand that it’s going to be a huge investment if you’re going to swim in...